Catamaran.



J. LOMBARDI. 4

GATAMARAN. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23, 1913.

Patented Apr. 14,1914.

TTD dTfaTEd PATN FTQE.

GATAMAB/AN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 14L, 191%.

Application fi1ed August 23, 1913. Serial No. 786,289.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, Josnrn Loarnanor, asubject of the King of Italy, a resident of the city of New York, countyand State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Catamarans, ofwhich the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representinglike parts.

This invention relates to boats having hulls of the catamaran type, andhas for its principal object the provision of a catamaran which shall bereadily collapsible into a light and compact bundle in order that it maybe easily carried from place to place.

The advantages of the present construction are hereinafter more fullydescribed and pointed out in connection with the accompanying drawingsin which Figure 1 is a side view of the device with one of the pontoonsremoved. Fig. 2 is a top view of the device, and Fig. 3 is a front viewof the device.

Referring to the drawings; a pair of collapsible floats or pontoons 1and 2 arepI'O- vided. The floats consist of an inner air retaining bagmade of rubber or some other suitable material and an outer cover ofheavy canvas or the like. lVhen in use these floats are inflated withair under pressure and serve to support the device upon the surface ofthe water. Then the device is being carried or transported these floatsare deflated and they may then be folded into a small bundle.

A frame upon which the rider sits, consists of a centrally locatedmember 3 to which are attached the steering and propelling means.Transverse frame members i, 5 and 6 serve to connect the floats orpontoons with the central frame member, thus supporting the rider. Thetransverse frame member 4 is connected with the frame member 3 by aremovable socket joint 7. The transverse members 5 and 6 are pivotallyattached to member 3 at points 8 and 9 respectively so that the framemembers 5 and 6 may be folded back upon the central frame member 3. Pinsare provided at the joints 8 and 9 to hold the frame members 5 and 6 intheir extended positions, as will be obvious. At the outer extremitiesof the transverse frame members suitable metal plates 10, 11, 12 and 13are provided which are adapted to rest upon the outer covering of thefloats or pontoons. Straps 1d, 15, 16 and 17 of suitable material, arepassed through slots in the plates 10, 11, 12 and 13 respectively andextend around the floats thus holding them firmly against the slottedplates. These straps are buckled upon the lower side of the floats, asshown in Fig. 3.

For the purpose of adjusting the machine to accommodate riders ofvarying weights four adjustable straps are provided extending from theframe member 3 to the straps 14, 15, 16 and 17 respectively which holdthe floats, and the first named straps are attached to the latter at apoint adjacent to the buckles. Two of these straps 18 and 19 are shownin Fig. 3. When a heavy person is riding the catamaran or when the seatis raised, thus raising the center of gravity of the craft, there wouldbe a slight tendency to top heaviness. In order to overcome thisdifliculty the straps 18 and 19 are lengthened allowing the floats tospread farther apart thus increasing the stability. When a lighterperson is riding or when the seat is low the straps 18 and 19 may beshortened bringing the floats closer together. This adjustment makes itpossible to keep the stability of the craft the same under all varyingconditions of use.

The propelling means consist of a. sprocket wheel 20 journaled in anupright arm 21. The sprocket wheel 20 is provided with cranks andhandles and is adapted to be turned by hand, as will be obvious. The arm21 is pivotally attached to the frame member 3 at a point 22 and isadapted to fold back upon the frame member 3. A pin 2-2 is providedadjacent to the point 22 to keep the arm in an upright position. An

arm 23, rigidly attached to the frame 8, ex-

tends downward therefrom ancl carries at its lower end a sprocket wheel24: and a bevel gear 25, both being fast upon the same shaft which isournaled in the lower end of said arm. The sprocket wheel 20 isconnected with the sprocket wheel 24 by a chain 26. An arm 27 is rigidlyattached to the frame member 3 and has at its lower end a shaft bearingthrough which passes a shaft upon which is mounted, at its forward end,a bevel gear 28 adapted to engage the bevel gear 25, and at the rear enda propeller 29. Suitable means are provided to prevent any longitudinalmovement of the shaft as will be readily understood by referring to Fig.1.

The steering means consist of a rudder 30 rigidly attached to a rudderpost 31 which passes through the frame member 3 and has a gear 32 fastthereto at a point above the frame member. The rudder post is adapted toturn in the frame member 3. A segmental gear 33 engages the gear 32 andis attached to a threaded seat post 34, the lower end of said seat postalso passing through the frame member. A seat 35 for the rider ismounted upon said seat post by a squared or slotted connection so thatthe seat will turn with the seat post. The seat post 34 is threaded andthe segmental gear 33 is also threaded in order that the height of theseat above the frame may be adjusted for different riders. A set screw36 passing through the segmental gear 33 serves to keep the post andseat in the relation determined upon. The gear 33 which is attached tothe seat post is of greater diameter than the gear 32 so that a movementof the seat through a small angle will move the rudder through a greaterangle.

The catamaran is shown in the drawings assembled and ready for use. Therider takeshis place upon the seat 35 and ropelsthe boat by turning thesprocket w eel 20. It will be readily understood that steering isaccomplished by the movement of the seat 35 upon which the rider sits.When it is desired to disassemble the catamaran in order to transport itthe floats or pontoons are detached from the frame and deflated. Theymay then be folded up. The frame member 4 is detached from the framememher 3. The frame members 5 and 6 are folded back against the framemember 3 and the arm 21 is folded down upon the central'frame member.The seat 35 is detached. The various parts of the catamaran may then bepacked into a small and compact bundle, and a suitable carrying case orcovering may be provided.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a portable catamaran, the combination with a pair of collapsiblepontoons of a central frame member, an upright arm pivotally attached toand adapted to be folded back upon said frame member, a sprocket wheeljournaled in said upright Copies of this patent may be obtained for armadapted to be turned by hand and operatively connected with a propeller,steering means mounted upon said central frame member, and transverseframe members adapted to bear upon and be supported by said collapsiblepontoons.

2. In a portable catamaran, the combination with a pair of collapsiblepontoons of a central frame member, an upright arm pivotally attached toand adapted to be folded back upon said frame member, a sprocket wheeljournaled in said upright arm adapted to be turned by hand andoperatively connected with a propeller, a seat and a rudder mounted uponsaid central frame member the rudder being adapted to be turned by theseat, and transverse frame members adapted to bear upon and be supportedby said pontoons.

3. In a portable catamaran, the combination with a pair of collapsiblepontoons consisting of inner air retaining means and outer pressureresisting means of a central frame member, an upwardly extending armpivotally attached to said central frame member and adapted to be foldedback upon said central frame member, a sprocketwheel journaled in saidarm operatively connected with a propeller, a rudder and a seat mountedupon said central frame member said rudder being operatively connectedwith said seat, a transverse frame member removably ointecl to saidcentral frame member, a second transverse member consisting of twosections pivotally attached to said central frame member and adapted tobe folded back upon said central frame member, plates at the ends ofsaid transverse members, and straps passing through said plates adaptedto hold the pontoons firmly against said plates.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH LOMBARDI.

Vitnesses M. VVHITTEMORE, LUOIUS E. VARNEY.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

